Grundy Reporter

Illinois Senate Republicans are calling for specific data on non-citizens with criminal convictions or charges residing in the state. This demand follows the release of federal statistics indicating that over half a million non-citizens with criminal records live in the United States.

According to the data, there are 662,556 individuals with criminal histories on ICE's national docket. Of these, 435,719 have been convicted of crimes and 226,847 face pending charges. Among them are over 13,000 non-citizens convicted of homicide and 15,811 convicted of sexual assault.

State Senator Sue Rezin emphasized the potential threat posed by immigrant criminals to Illinois residents' safety. "These alarming statistics showcase the potential threat posed by immigrant criminals to the safety of Illinois residents," she stated.

Following a press conference held on October 1, Republican lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The letter requests data specific to Illinois regarding how many individuals from this group reside within the state.

Senator Rezin highlighted concerns that national figures might obscure more significant issues within Illinois. She noted that under Governor JB Pritzker's administration, funding for non-citizen programs has increased substantially—from a few million dollars annually to over a billion dollars—necessitating tax hikes.

Republican lawmakers also pointed out challenges arising from limited cooperation between state law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), exacerbated by policies such as the TRUST Act implemented under Governor Pritzker's leadership.

The legislators reiterated their commitment to transparency about non-citizen criminals' presence in Illinois. Senator Rezin stressed that public safety should be prioritized: "Illinois residents deserve to have their questions answered."